2:00pm

Come learn more about the fastest growing sport in the USA! Get your sneakers on and join us on the court. Whether you are a physical education teacher, a youth coach, or someone who just wants to learn more about the game, this session is for you! Through fun activities, you will learn some valuable teaching tools, strategies, and resources that will guarantee to improve the success of your players/students.

2:00pm

This workshop explores numerous, proven ways to reach gifted learners in challenging ways. The objective is to have participants leave with a variety of new strategies and specific ideas to help pupils become better creative and critical thinkers. A variety of successful teaching and parenting techniques will be shared. Bring your thinking caps and your funny bones.

2:00pm

Brain Fitness (PBS Video & online Posit Science brain exercises) – This is an informative session on how the brain works and how to improve brain functioning. Based upon the concepts of neuroplasticity, this video features top neuroscientists who explain their research and how you can slow down the degenerative loss that is part of aging and improve brain functioning. Various online exercises include memory, speed, attention, and intelligence.

2:00pm

The Big Motivator will teach you to honor your gifts in your work with students and yourselves! You’ll hear how to use inspirational, encouraging, and motivational exercises in the classroom. You’ll also identify your own strengths and how to use them to enhance student learning. There will be ideas shared on mental agility and time management flexibility to get the results you desire for student learning.

2:00pm

Do your students struggle with basic math facts? We invite you to participate in a hands-on, systematic and fun approach to helping your students learn basic math facts and concepts. You will work in small groups using manipulatives, such as Cuisenaire rods, playing cards and Unifix cubes, to learn fun ways to introduce place value, basic facts and fractions. You will also learn games to reinforce these concepts

2:00pm

The Common Core Mathematical Content Standards describe what a proficient student knows, but the Practice Standards explain what that student does. The difference between that vision and what students do in most math classes in most states is vast. The presenter will explain some of those differences and offer practical strategies for bridging that gap, all while explaining how you – yes you – can break a world record.

2:00pm

As we transition to the Common Core, it can be overwhelming to think about integrating literacy skills into all content areas. The Common Core presents teachers with an opportunity to design curriculum that challenges students with authentic research endeavors, reinforcing literacy and critical thinking skills in all disciplines while also sending the message that reading and writing is not “just in English class” anymore. Sure, this sounds great, but what does it look like? How does it happen? In this workshop we will discuss and show examples of how an interdisciplinary 7th grade team at Parker Middle School has started on the path towards this goal. Participants will learn how to easily access and locate published material through Gale databases and save their documents and searches to a free Gale account or on Diigo, a web-based social bookmarking tool. The databases highlighted in this session are free Massachusetts resources that will help educators develop curricula that meet Common Core standards.

2:00pm

This workshop is intended to introduce Elementary teachers to some of the philosophy and ideas behind the new engineering and technology program being introduced to RPS this year. This will include interactive use of Autodesk Inventor Cad software, discussion of the focus of communication skills, both in terms of visual and written language, and the opportunity for students to learn through active projects using the design process. Attendees will get the opportunity to experience some of the concepts of engineering design through hands-on activities. An underlying agenda of this workshop is to prompt discussion of potential pathways for future introduction of some of these concepts into the elementary classroom.

2:00pm

Who owns the learning in your class and how are you preparing your students for success in the Digital Age? In our session you will hear how we have turned our kindergarten classrooms into a Digital Learning Farm so that our students can own their own learning. Hear about tutorial designers, student scribes, student researches and creative creators coming alive as they explore using web 2.0 tools. Life is good down on the farm!

2:00pm

Would you like to breathe new life into your students’ day? Renew your classroom with energizing techniques that will motivate your students and increase their engagement. In addition to classroom management strategies, you will have the opportunity to learn about innovative activities, projects and classroom writing that stimulate the student while fulfilling Common Core standards. Teachers who are exploring ideas for incorporating writing into the curriculum will benefit from shared strategies and assignments.

2:00pm

Once upon a time long ago, high school science teachers were quick to show their students how to use a slide rule. Today we have Moodle, Blackboard, mobile devices and “the cloud.” Yet how much has really changed? Let’s get it done! Let’s create an Upper School approach by redesigning what happens in (and especially out) of classes with some of today’s emerging technologies. Let’s get it right – “end points” first, technology second.

2:00pm

Safe Routes to School Programs enable community leaders, schools, and parents across the United States to improve safety and encourage more children, including children with disabilities, to safely walk and bicycle to school. In the process, programs are working to reduce traffic congestion and improve health and the environment, making communities more livable for everyone. Come see how the collaboration of the Town of Reading Departments – Engineering, Police and Schools are trying to keep students safe.

2:00pm

This session provides general educators the strategies and confidence to meet special needs in their own classroom including Autism Spectrum Disorders, cognitive deficits, and behavioral challenges. You will leave with strategies that are simple and easy to implement the next day, helping these exceptional students realize their true potential!

2:00pm

How can students learn to sit and stand to enhance musicianship, breathing and comfort? This hands-on body mapping workshop utilizes basic anatomy to explore the interrelationship between sitting/standing and breathing and their role in expression, performance and skill development. Participants gain an understanding of sitting/standing balance and movements of the breath as they learn to recognize balance and breathing habits in students, and acquire tools to easily integrate these concepts into teaching.

2:00pm

This workshop will combine lecture, video demonstration, and practice in the how’s and why’s of using independent activity schedules to increase independence in both leisure time and everyday skills for students of all ages and disabilities. This is an evidence-based well researched strategy for teaching a variety of skills and behavior chains.

2:00pm

This 2-hour hands-on workshop is for anyone who has very little experience or no experience in using the iPad or other iOS device. An iPad will be available during the workshop, although using your own is recommended. Participants will spend a bit of time on the basic usage of the iPads, changing settings, using the camera, email and accessing the App Store.

2:00pm

Students need to encounter a word MANY times before it is committed to memory. Finding fun, motivating ways for students to work with sight, spelling and vocabulary words can be challenging. In this workshop, you will be introduced to classroom tested games, activities, routines and more to add to your own bag of tricks. They are designed to enrich your current language arts curriculum work.

2:00pm

The school shootings at Columbine, Virginia Tech, and Sandy Hook have taught school and police officials that the current lockdown process is not sufficient in addressing a dangerous intruder in our schools. In this presentation, see the new enhanced lockdown process called A.L.I.C.E., which is being implemented in schools throughout our country. This new process focuses on empowering teachers and students to make decisions based upon the information that they have in a school intruder situation.

2:00pm

Do you despair over your first period class who never wakes up, your class after lunch who never quiets down, or maybe one particular student who has absolutely no parental support? Join us to briefly explore the classroom implications of current brain research. However, the majority of this workshop will be sharing practical brain-based strategies and approaches that help get students involved, motivated, and retaining more.

2:00pm

Need to share work from the class iPad? In this workshop you will learn the value of the iPad's camera roll. You will learn how to capture images and video from the camera, the web, and apps on the iPad. Once on the camera roll, work can be edited, annotated, and uploaded to the web for sharing. Note: Please bring an iPad if possible. There will be a limited amount of iPads available for use

2:00pm

For Reading Public Schools employees, this training will cover all aspects of the Educator Evaluation process as facilitated through the Baseline Edge system. Participants will learn how to fully access all aspects of their account on Baseline Edge as well as have time for editing their evaluation forms, attach evidence and troubleshoot any concerns. Come and check out the new user-friendly interface- it works just like Pinterest! (Participants are encouraged to bring a laptop and evidence to attach to their account, but it is not required)

10:00am

Would you like to help students learn Scratch but don’t know where to start? Scratch is a programming language for ages 4-104 that makes it easy to create interactive and multimedia art, stories, simulations and games and to share these creations online. Take a journey with us through the global Scratch and Scratch Ed websites where you will learn about finding curriculum resources, discovering interesting projects, creating a gallery of student work, downloading and remixing projects, and connecting with other community members. Curriculum guides and Scratch cards will be provided to all attendees.

10:00am

Many educators are experimenting with the idea of the flipped classroom model. The flipped classroom inverts traditional teaching methods, delivering instruction online outside of class and moving “homework” into the classroom. We’ll look at the ways flipped classroom works, what it does for elementary teachers and students, and you’ll see examples of flipped classrooms. You’ll also have a chance to see how to flip a subject area of your own

10:00am

The Reading Public Schools is entering its second year in the implementation of the new Educator Evaluation System. This presentation focuses on the lessons that have been learned during this year and how to improve the system moving forward.

10:00am

This workshop will give you some simple and effective ways to use iPods for teaching language arts. Students in our classrooms use the iPods to think aloud while they read to increase comprehension, practice summarizing key information, reinforce vocabulary, take pictures to inspire poetry, and practice parts of speech. We’ll demonstrate how we utilize the basic tools on the iPods as well as apps such as Splice, Quickmark, SekaiCamera, and Madlibs. We’ll show you how we use these free apps to make fun vocabulary movies, QR code book reviews and floating poetry using augmented reality. Tools and apps in this presentation can also be implemented using iPads.

10:00am

Learn fun and creative ways to incorporate the use of the SMARTBoard into your music curriculum. We will learn about incorporating the SMARTBoard with composition, music games and assessments and other assorted tips and tricks to make your lessons fun and interactive. In order to fully participate you will need a laptop with SMART Notebook 11 installed, however everyone is welcome to come and see what the SMARTBoard can really do for Music Educators!

10:00am

Social media has revolutionized communication, allowing for celebrities and professionals to connect with a much larger audience. In this workshop, attendees will get hands-on and demo Twitter, Edmodo (a social-based Learning Management System), and more social media outlets. Whether it’s to follow your favorite literacy author or to network with an industry professional, we show how social media networks can be leveraged for students and teachers.

10:00am

Marcia and Chris will share their experience teaching Digital Storytelling using a variety of mobile devices software and apps. Included in the discussion will be examples of research tools and multimedia lessons we have done in our classroom. This session will focus on how to use Edline and the BYOD model to create a blended learning environment where students are encouraged to work harder than the teachers.

10:00am

Come experience how a middle school teacher has used iPads to increase student engagement and improve learning. We will practice using the Socrative and Nearpod apps to create an interactive learning environment in which the students can get instant feedback during class. Participants should already have a basic knowledge of iPad use. A limited number of iPads will be provided, but please bring your own iPad if you have one.

10:00am

Teaching the writing process can be challenging, but when coupled with managing a variety of learning styles and needs, a teacher might not know where to begin. This presentation will outline the writing process and the Common Core Writing Standards, as well as provide participants with some tips and tricks for managing writing in your classroom.

10:00am

This presentation is designed to help middle school Social Studies teachers learn to create lessons that incorporate the new standards for literacy described in the Massachusetts Curriculum Framework. Lesson samples will be shared from both grade 6 and 8 to give a range of complexity, and ability levels. Suggested audience: grades 5-9 Social Studies teachers.

10:00am

Are you curious about the new Common Core State Standards for Mathematics? Want to learn more about the new PARCC assessment? How about the new Standards for Mathematical Practice? In this two part workshop two PARCC Educator Leader Fellows of the Massachusetts PARCC Educator Leader Cadre will share the latest news on PARCC. In the second portion of the workshop you will investigate the Standards for Mathematical Practice and the implications for instruction.

10:00am

Many middle school classrooms consist of a wide spectrum of learners. Participants will learn how technology is used to assist the moderate special needs student in the mainstream classroom. Ipads, Storykit, and Instagronk will be explored.

10:00am

Knowing how to search the web is an essential skill in today’s digital age. This hands-on workshop will examine the advanced functions of Google search. Participants will learn how to improve search results by using a combination of logical queries, operators, filters, and media types.

10:00am

What's out there for nonfiction that can capture the minds and imaginations of middle schoolers? How can our students help us to know which quality texts are most relevant to them? Join Sue Kalmakis and Beth Beaulieu to view the book reviews created by 6th graders at Parker Middle School. This project was the teachers' first experience using technology tools to make the ELA classroom a digital learning farm. The students' digital creations are meant to be a resource to teachers across the district for suggestions about middle school and sometimes upper elementary appropriate texts. Lots of books and presentations will be shared as well as a URL for future reference. If anyone attended Sue Kalmakis' book talks in the past, this is an update with a nod to the Common Core State Standards' emphasis on nonfiction and a reflection of work from Expanding the Boundaries of Teaching and Learning.

10:00am

Common Core Standards are here and literacy skills are being integrated into all content areas. Come to this workshop to learn how to easily access and locate engaging, age-appropriate information text for elementary students that will hook them and keep them reading. These FREE, published resources are distributed through Gale Cengage Learning and will help educators develop curricula that meet Common Core Standards. Resources are appropriate for students in grades 3-5

10:00am

With the ever-increasing pressures of new initiatives, accountability and standardization in today’s educational environment, it is critical to ensure that building and maintaining a positive climate for staff and students remains a priority. Throughout this interactive workshop, participants will learn the key components to creating a positive classroom and school environment that are conducive to effective teaching/learning in the 21st Century.

10:00am

Substance use by teens continues to be a major issue. While street drugs are readily available in many communities, many teen drug users easily obtain over-the-counter or prescription medications from a variety of sources, including their family’s medicine cabinet. Use of inhalants, steroids and bath salts is also presented in this in-service workshop.

10:00am

Motivational Interviewing is an extremely effective technique for working with resistant and disengaged students. This workshop will teach the basic tenants and principles of MI for use in the classroom and school counseling office. Participants will have the chance to practice the strategies and gain the confidence to put MI in place the next day!

10:00am

One in eight children suffers from anxiety disorders. Without intervention, they’re at risk for poor performance and social/behavior problems in school. Traditional behavioral approaches often don’t meet the needs of students with anxiety. An effective behavior plan must avoid rewards and consequences and focus instead on teaching the student to cope and use alternative responses. Incorporating preventative strategies and self-monitoring systems, within an anxiety management approach to behavior intervention, can be effectively implemented in schools.

10:00am

In this session, special and general educators will present their model of co-teaching and the use of their schools learning center to best educate and support high school students in the Least Restrictive Environment (LRE).

10:00am

Presentation on editing and using the multiple new interactive functions of Edline in the RMHS classroom. Presentation is intended for educators who are looking to go beyond the basic use and set up of Edline.

11:15am

This workshop explores numerous, proven ways to reach gifted learners in challenging ways. The objective is to have participants leave with a variety of new strategies and specific ideas to help pupils become better creative and critical thinkers. A variety of successful teaching and parenting techniques will be shared. Bring your thinking caps and your funny bones.

11:15am

You are cordially invited to join the Barrows 4th Grade Team for an “app”etizing hour of iPad sharing. Who: Anyone who is currently using or interested in integrating iPads into their classroom. What: Serving up a menu of useful apps that we have used in our classrooms. What can you bring? Novices, just yourselves. Experienced users, BYOD and an “app”etizing app to share. We promise you will have a sparkling time!

11:15am

Mary Anne and Chris will discuss the Sudan: Making Real World Connections program that is currently happening at Coolidge Middle School. The presentation will include how the program was funded, the importance of “whole school collaboration”, whole-school reads, parent involvement, and the connections with the real world and common core standards.

11:15am

Learn to blog using pictures, widgets, and links. Discover how you can improve your practice every day from the best educators around the world. Two experienced principals will share how technology is a tool to share information. Included in the presentation will be ways to save time, learn who are the best blogging educators around the world, and make the information come to you rather than you having to go find it. This presentation is geared towards teachers and administrators.

11:15am

Students today connect to others through music, but how do you help a student transition from a lover of music to creating their own masterpieces? Music teachers all over the US are implementing digital devices into their classrooms. Learn how music based apps are keeping students engaged and eager to connect with the world around them.

11:15am

If you are interested in being part of a BYOD initiative, this workshop is for you. Hear about this exciting initiative for bringing your own device to school! Reading students are now able to bring their own iPads, laptops, Smartphones, and iPods to class which is enhancing and changing the learning environment. Teachers are introducing new ways to integrate these devices into classroom learning activities to take student engagement and productivity to a higher level. You will hear from both students and teachers as how BYOD has been implemented in the Reading Public Schools. You’ll have lots of ideas on how you might introduce this initiative in your own classroom and school! If you are a Reading teacher and you would like to be part of this initiative for next year, please feel free to attend this workshop and learn more!

11:15am

“Walk a day in someone else’s shoes.” Our students spent a week in someone else’s armor. Come and see how reliving history with over 200 eighth graders was not only under control but thoroughly engaging. We’ll show you how to expand their critical thinking skills and creativity as they problem solve from different historical perspectives. No fancy technology required!

11:15am

The new Common Core standards emphasize using nonfiction to inform reading and writing. The temptation to rely only on Google will be great. Fortunately, RMHS and RPL purchase a rich array of online resources that support writing across the curriculum, especially Science in Context, SIRS (Social Issues Research), ProQuest Learning Literature, and a host of other research databases that are available via the public library. Topics will include search strategies, managing research with tools, RSS alerts, and interlibrary lending.

11:15am

This workshop will define best practices in the planning and implementation of the new educator evaluation model from a district in which 100% of the staff have implemented the new model this year (administration and teaching staff). We will define the collaborative approach to implementation planning in regards to contract language and supports. We will also share district timelines, professional development sequences, forms developed to supplement the model, and electronic tools utilized.

11:15am

Attendees will be introduced to the un-conference format and how this can be a viable option for organizing professional development activities in their school. An un-conference is a participant-empowered and directed approach to professional learning. The presenter will highlight how this was done during a two-hour PD session at RMHS during the 2012-2013 school year.

11:15am

With so many students struggling with self-injurious behaviors (cutting, burning, etc.) teachers and counselors at all grade levels are in need of effective strategies to use in the classroom to support these students. The workshop will begin with clear ways to identify and understand why students engage in this behavior followed by various approaches to supporting these students. Participants will have the opportunity to practice techniques for working with students as well as communicating with parents regarding self-injurious concerns. BONUS: Participants will receive training in a variety of Yoga 4 Classrooms poses and techniques to support this work!

11:15am

In this workshop teachers will learn exactly what Cultural Proficiency is and learn how it can help improve their practice. This interactive workshop will first address the “need to’s” and the “how to’s” of discussing race in the classroom. Next we will define cultural proficiency, identify the key components necessary to train more effective teachers, and examine ways to foster trustworthy relationships between teachers and students in the classroom.

11:15am

Come and learn how the Joshua Eaton Jaguars created a “Pawsitive” school community for students, staff, and families! Ideas for building character, social emotional learning, and school spirit will be discussed. We will share ideas to improve your school climate, culture, and community outreach. We are excited to share our strategies and ideas for you to take back to use in your own elementary school!

11:15am

Wondering how to meet the learning needs of all the students in your classroom, especially those who struggle with reading and writing? Looking for new instructional methods to address the unique needs of students who can’t access grade level text or who have great ideas but can’t get them on paper? Then this practical, fast-paced, workshop is for you as we explore new technologies which promote independence and success for struggling learners.

11:15am

Come along and join us to hear about our adventure flipping fourth grade math. Hear the successes, as well as some of the challenges we faced when we implemented our flipped math classroom model. We will share the various techniques and technologies we used to engage our students in taking ownership of their learning. We will also leave time for you to share your own ideas and ask questions about the flipped classroom model.

11:15am

This workshop addresses the visual skills students need in order to create solutions to realistic problems in CAD and engineering electives at RMHS. These skills are applicable to many other academic disciplines and are often not explicitly taught using a coherent methodology, or students find it difficult to transfer their knowledge across discipline boundaries. This workshop explores some techniques of teaching these visually-based skills within a necessarily combined verbal and visual communication modality. It is the combination of language and technique which provides the student with an explicitly taught methodology for development of these skills.

11:15am

This presentation is designed to provide teachers with resources and tools to address mental health and behavioral concerns (primarily bullying) within their classroom. This presentation will include an introduction to low or no cost and ready-to-use materials for teachers to use within their classrooms

11:15am

One in eight children suffers from anxiety disorders. Without intervention, they’re at risk for poor performance and social/behavior problems in school. Traditional behavioral approaches often don’t meet the needs of students with anxiety. An effective behavior plan must avoid rewards and consequences and focus instead on teaching the student to cope and use alternative responses. Incorporating preventative strategies and self-monitoring systems, within an anxiety management approach to behavior intervention, can be effectively implemented in schools.

11:15am

1:30pm

Bringing technology into the hands of students has many exciting implications to change the way our students learn and own their own learning. BYOD has many applications the high school chemistry classroom to support students in their learning and encourage risk taking with new and independent methods of learning. This BYOD challenge is a journey for students, teacher, and families and a study in positive change to the learning environment.

1:30pm

Attendees will learn about co-teaching between the Librarian and classroom teacher. This collaborative research project is designed for third, but appropriate and informative for grades 2-5. Using the “Digital Learning Farm Model,” students own the learning. It tackles many common core standards including research, technology, presentation, reading and writing in addition to student collaboration. Students push past classroom walls using Twitter and searching websites, in addition to creating a non-fiction book of their own design!

1:30pm

During the 2012-2013 school year, our team worked to improve instruction through observations of and structured conversations about four focal students in order to identify and implement consistent professional practices across the team. We will present our protocols and procedures, sample student work and observation notes, and how we were able to identify and implement consistent professional practices.

1:30pm

We will be discussing the value of a multi-tiered system of supports in the classroom and how teachers can implement research-based interventions and successfully collect data on student progress. Sharing successful interventions that can be implemented in the general education setting, we will examine the need for further use of the MTSS model in order to better meet the needs of students in the general education setting. Through the use of the MTSS, our schools will reduce the number of unnecessary Special Education referrals and develop a culture of collective responsibility for all of our students. Learn how to better address the academic, social, behavioral and emotional needs of a struggling student in your classroom.

1:30pm

Today's fast-paced world of modern technology can be overwhelming. With so many different tablets and applications floating around, teaching with devices can be bogged down with understanding basic operations instead of focusing on the fun of using this technology! Our Digital Scavenger Hunt offers a unique break from your average workshop by providing an active and hilarious look at mobile learning! You will not only learn how to operate your device, but get quirky and successful ideas for implementing it in your own classroom.

1:30pm

Come learn the many ways that Edmodo.com, a safe social networking site created by teachers, can be used at the elementary level (grades 4 and 5). You will see many examples of how the website has already been used successfully in the classroom and also get the chance to set up your own account!

1:30pm

It is important for all students to engage and participate in classroom lessons. In this session, participants will learn how to work effectively with the reading specialist in the classroom. The reading specialist will focus on addressing the various reading levels, so as to include all students in the learning process. The classroom teacher will present the lesson, using Common Core Standards as a guide. Technology- based lessons will be shared.

1:30pm

“Project Lead The Way (PLTW) is the leading provider of rigorous and innovative Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) education curricular programs used in middle and high schools across the U.S.” This interactive workshop introduces the engineering software used in PLTW classrooms and by professional engineers all over the world called Autodesk® Inventor® which is a 3D CAD software product that offers a comprehensive, flexible set of software for 3D mechanical design, product simulation, tooling creation, engineer to order, and design communication.

1:30pm

How often do you hear students approach an upcoming assessment week with the sentiments of being excited about the prospect? The pilot of Real World Problem Solving, an authentic assessment opportunity for RMHS juniors, lived up to this expectation and more. Learn how this new initiative challenged students to apply their learning for a collaborative problem solving adventure for which teams formulated a solution to case studies with potential implications for the Reading community

1:30pm

This workshop will explain how your public pension affects your Social Security eligibility based on your own retirement as well as spousal benefits. It will explain the basics of Social Security and Medicare and what you need to know to prepare for retirement.

1:30pm

Because anti-gay bullying is unique. . . because schools with strong GSA’s a safe and supportive environment for all students. . . because GSAs are not about sex but about building acceptance and community. GLBT students need unequivocal support from their school administrators, teachers, and peers. RMHS GSA leaders Kathryn Vallis and junior Sam Wagner will share what they have learned about creating GSAs at the middle school and high school levels and help you get your GSA off the ground.

1:30pm

Our environments have an incredibly large impact on our mood, goals and energy level. This workshop is perfect for anyone who feels their classroom or workspace needs improvement! Participants will learn basic principles about space design and alignment in order to support the learning of their students and their own work satisfaction. Each participant will analyze their classroom or workspace and leave with a space design plan personalized to match the needs of their space, students and self.

1:30pm

This workshop will focus on understanding and providing Transition Services for students with disabilities. We will discuss the legal obligation around preparing students for life after high school and strategies for ensuring compliance.

1:30pm

Participants will experience Adventure Programming initiatives for use in a classroom setting or gym and progress through a sequence of strategies and techniques to enhance group dynamics .These activities will include ice breakers, group problem solving, and communication skills. Come prepared for engaging activities, rewarding challenges, valuable ideas to integrate into your classroom, and a whole lot of fun!

1:30pm

Have you seen kids stack cups? It’s amazing to race against the clock! Today schools, teachers and parents are focused more than ever on academic achievement. Sport stacking not only promotes physical fitness, but also academic learning. Students that sport stack on a regular basis have shown increases in test scores and levels of concentration. This is achieved by students using both their right and left sides of their brain. When students sport stack they are crossing the "midline" of their bodies and developing new connections in their brains

1:30pm

This workshop will help provide English teachers with several practical ways to incorporate student devices and technology into their classrooms. Practical applications range from activating activities to long term group projects and assessments. Find out how BYOD in the ELA classroom can help you differentiate instruction and promote meaningful engagement.

1:30pm

This workshop is a follow-up to a presentation given by Garth Holman and myself concerning how we have changed students’ (and our) philosophy, integrated technology and are putting into practice the pedagological changes that many others only speak of. Our students own their learning and are leaving a legacy for other students throughout the world.

1:30pm

In addition to using specific inquiry assignments, teachers can shift the burden of learning and discovery to students in various small and subtle ways that encourage students to be responsible for doing the bulk of work in a classroom, with the teacher as facilitator. We’ll explore some techniques (both technological and not) that have worked in a high school English classroom, and hopefully produce ideas for approaches suitable for all disciplines in a high school setting.

1:30pm

This will be an interactive workshop aimed at helping the teacher create and catalog daily lessons using the SMART Board Notebook software. Teachers will create lesson and activity templates, reusable visuals, and icons. These will save time in planning and executing lessons. In addition, teachers will learn how to use and implement the SMART Recorder to create videos used to “flip” the classroom.

1:30pm

Whether we like it or not, teens and parents throughout Middlesex County are using Facebook. It, and other social networking sites, has truly revolutionized the way we communicate. This workshop takes a practical approach to Facebook, including a systematic guide to the ever-changing privacy settings.